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Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 12:30:46 +0000
From: Road Alert!
To: roadalert@gn.apc.org
Subject: Go-ahead for Honiton bypasses

The following DoT press notice gives background info on the decision to approve two more road schemes in the SouthWest - announced whilst Fairmile, a few miles away, was still being evicted. There are some useful names and addresses in "Notes to Editors" No.7. The "independent" inspector named in Note No. 5 also gave the go-ahead for the building of the massively destructive Chideock-Morecomblake road in Dorset.
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>DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
>PRESS NOTICE: 27 DATE: 29 January 1997
>
>GO-AHEAD FOR A30/A303/A35 IMPROVEMENTS
>
>The Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport today gave
>the go-ahead for the dualling of the A30/A303 between Honiton in
>Devon and Ilminster in Somerset and for a new single carriageway
>eastern bypass for Honiton on the A35.
>
>The improvements to this busy and important trunk road route into the
>south west are designed to ease congestion and improve road safety.
>
>The decision to go-ahead follows recommendations made by an
>independent Inspector who held local public Inquiries into the
>proposals between May and October 1995.
>
>Commenting on the decision, John Watts, Minister for Railways and
>Roads, said:
>
>" I am pleased to announce that we have accepted the Inspector's
>recommendations and agree with his conclusions that the problems
>arising from the inadequacies and deficiencies of the existing roads
>need to be resolved.
>
>These schemes will help improve traffic flow and enhance road safety
>along these busy routes thereby improving the environment and quality

>of life for those living in communities alongside the existing trunk
>roads".
>
>The A30/A303 is a major road link between London, the M3 and the
>south west. It also serves an alternative to the M4/M5 route. Much of
>the route has already been improved but these stretches between
>Honiton and Ilminster remain below current standards.
>
>Assuming satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory
>procedures, the timing of construction of the new road will be
>subject to the availability of resources and other competing
>priorities within the trunk road programme.
>
>NOTES TO EDITORS
>
>1. The improvements are divided into two schemes; the A30/A303
>Marsh to Honiton Improvement and the A35 Honiton Eastern Bypass
>(under one set of Orders) and the A303 Ilminster to Marsh Improvement
>(under separate Orders).
>
>2. The Marsh to Honiton and Ilminster to Marsh sections would
>together provide 14 miles of dual carriageway linking the end of the
>Ilminster Bypass in the east with the Honiton to Exeter improvement
>in the west. It would replace the existing single carriageway and be
>built closely parallel to, or over, much of the existing road which
>has a generally poor alignment and restricted overtaking
>opportunities. Its accident record is above the national average.
>
>3. The A35 Honiton Eastern Bypass would be a single carriageway
>road about 1.5 miles long linking the new Marsh to Honiton
>Improvement at Cheney's Farm to the existing A35 at Mount Pleasant.
>
>4. Public consultation took place in 1986 and in 1990 leading to
>the announcement of a preferred route for both the Honiton to Marsh
>Improvement and the Honiton Eastern Bypass in 1988. The preferred
>route for the Ilminster to Marsh Improvement was announced in 1992.
>Draft Orders and Environmental Statements for the schemes were
>variously published in July 1993, April and June 1994, and January
>1995.
>
>5. The public local Inquiries into the proposals were held
>between 10 May and 10 October 1995 before Mr John Moore MBE an
>independent Inspector nominated by the Lord Chancellor.
>
>6. The Inspector has concluded that the schemes are needed and
>has recommended that the Orders be made subject to agreed
>modifications and to the adoption of an alternative junction at
>Devonshire Inn proposed by Devon County Council. This would replace
>the proposed roundabout with a two-level junction. Draft
>supplementary Orders for the alternative junction will be published
>by the Highways Agency in due course.
>
>7. The draft Orders, Inspector's report and associated documents
>may be inspected at the offices of the Government Office for the
>South West, The Pithay, Bristol BS1 2PB. Management of the schemes is
>the responsibility of the Highways Agency, Southern Operations
>Division in Bristol form whom further details may be obtained. The
>Marsh to Honiton Improvement and the Honiton Eastern bypass has been
>designed by consulting engineers, Rendel Palmer & Tritton Ltd and the
>Ilminster to Marsh Improvement by consulting engineers, MRM
>Partnership.
>


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